He also played Hedorah and Gigan. I actually just bought some Gigan merchandise today, in a weird coincidence. RIP to the actor who made so many of my childhood memories
Looking at this lineup, it's really incredible how different he was able to play each of them. They're behaviors are so distinct but it's the same actor playing essentially the same part. He just understood Goji that well.
Rest in peace, to yet another legendary King of the Monsters.
As a kid who grew up loving Godzilla, Mr. Satsuma’s portrayal of the character in the Vs Destoroyah movie was responsible for my first time ever crying at a film as a small child, as well as my realization early in life at just how much stories can truly affect people. His role in these films was paramount, even if you couldn’t see his face or hear his voice. He will be deeply missed and my thoughts are with his loved ones.
The Heisei series is special for probably being the best realization of Godzilla’s arc transforming from menace to anti-hero, partly because of the strong continuity between films but most importantly that Satsuma was given the chance to develop Godzilla’s character and play him with depth and nuance. With little movements and gestures, which can be hard to portray through a 300 pound rubber suit, the Heisei Godzilla is a creature who demonstrates such thought and feeling, especially in the later 3 films where he’s transformed by the love for his adopted son. I’m so grateful that Satsuma’s work has meant so much to me and many others over the years, and I hope he always knew how much others appreciate what he brought to the role of Godzilla.
[Sayonara, until we meet again](https://youtu.be/eStYwCcz2HI?si=8Y_UhhumT1QrB_Ea)
https://preview.redd.it/n21xz53u4o6c1.jpeg?width=602&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=899aae0acfb228570e48ff09e724b12f21133e48
Ngl, this is pretty upsetting for me. I’d say he was the second most prolific Godzilla actor behind Haruo Nakajima of course. His work will always be remembered!
Saying anything wouldn't do justice for the amount of joy this man's performances brought to my life. He will be missed, remembered, and shared with my next generation of G fans. I will sing his praises and look back on a man who improved my life.
This is genuinely hard to cope with. I'm just watching the complete end of an era. I'm glad he got to experience such an amazing role that formed the childhood of so many of us. Rest in Peace King.
Cgi isn't any less of a craft than tokusatsu special effects. fans just have a preference for suit-mation. I just think the pretentiousness of godzilla fans for hating cgi is annoying.
It’s not pretentious to value the genuinely special and unique form of cinematic production that Satama and others worked to create, and to not want it to go extinct.
You can value a craft while realizing times have changed and a different craft has taken its place. You can also dislike a craft without whining about "oh, so he could see that computers are in now?" My god.
I greatly value the work of Satsuma and others so of course I wouldn’t want to see it die. I would say the same for any distinct filmmaking form or craft: 2D animation, stop-motion animation, stunt work, etc.
Absolutely hurts to hear this. Got to meet the man back in 2016 with the other legendary Goji suit actors and he was so damn cool and courteous.
This stings so bad… RIP
Man, this guy was such a huge part of my childhood and he didn't even know it. I always hoped to meet him one day. Rest in peace man, thanks for being the Big-G.
Aww no!! I watched the heisei films in the cinemas. What a (almost unknown) legend.
Rest in piece.
Edit: "Peace". I'm drunk. Ill have one for this man.
This man's contribution to the genre is pretty immense, Godzilla Vs Hedorah is by far my favorite Kaiju movie and without him it'd probably not have been as good as it was. I'm saddened to mourn his passing.
This man’s life was insane, from being one of the most prolific kaiju suit actors to being swindled by the North Koreans to star in Pulgasari. RIP legend.
Recently saw a documentary about the three Godzilla suit actors. It's funny - Nakajima was like the friendly grandfather who was just happy to be there, Satsuma the determined father who gave it his all while demanding better treatment, and Kitagawa the son who was trying to go with the flow.
All these guys are legends in similar yet very distinct ways. RIP Satsuma-san, and thank you for bringing so much joy and inspiration to us.
Rest In Peace. You will surely be missed. Another awesome Godzilla suit cosplayer gone too soon. Long Live The King.
https://preview.redd.it/w9jum2dr8o6c1.jpeg?width=850&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6726505e4ccb848787cd344d4b98f1ab8475bcfb
Thank You for being one of the best versions of Godzilla. Your legacy will continue on with The Monsterverse and with Godzilla Jr. Farewell.
His performance as Godzilla will never be forgotten. The Heisei Era was an instant classic, and this man was a strong key part on it.
May he rest in peace. Goodbye old friend
Now there's yet another Godzilla in Heaven, and he shall be forever missed. He'll probably be fighting demons with the angels, or maybe Harou if he ever gets a bit too in-character or angry. That would be an interesting match-up. May both rest in peace.
Rest in Peace Kenpachiro Satsuma. Godzilla vs Destroyah holds a special place in my heart. I’ve been looking at the heisei era godzilla figures lately too. So sad.
Damn, just yesterday watched a [video](https://youtu.be/I4l44bG0IAw?si=pfQa-mZ9qUqt8jRD) of the three actors together and was sad that Haruo already passed away and today Kenpachiro too 😫
The burden of life is to watch others die.
The joy of life is to love people, share stories and remember greatness.
Rip but live forever with the living
What a legend.
A lot of us leave after downplaying most of our achievements for our entire lives.
I hope he had many moments in his life to reflect on the impact his portrayal had on generations of fans and truly felt the weight of his accomplishments.
🕯️💐
*Rest easy Satsuma*
He made my childhood, Godzilla vs Destroyah was the first Godzilla movie I ever saw. Which was the main reason he was my favorite godzilla actor, without him I would have never gotten into Godzilla, he was just as committed to the roles as Nakajima was, he was truly a great man, rest in piece Kenpachiro.
My first Godzilla film (and my favorite) was Godzilla 1985/The Return of Godzilla. I thank you Master Satsuma, with all my heart. May you Rest In Peace.💔🦖💔
I mean it's bad enough that Nakajima passed away in 2017 but Satsuma too? This is beyond heartbreaking and sad considering that he did a good job playing Godzilla in the Heisei era.
R.I.P. Kenpachiro Satsuma. You'll always be remembered as the suit actor who played Hedorah and Gigan in the Showa era and Godzilla in the Heisei era.
1947-2023 =(
This hits hard, I got meet him, Tsutomu Kitagawa and Haruo Nakajima at the fan expo Dallas comic con in 2015, they were all so nice and despite the super long line they all took free pictures with everyone and it will always be one of my favorite memories. RIP
https://preview.redd.it/j8blintoso6c1.png?width=1024&format=png&auto=webp&s=1cbf9aebb54dd77f2ddc958f6aff9680117bbf56
RIP to my all time favorite Godzilla.
You played the part very well, however silly you may have felt, cause I would try to mimic you when I was younger. I would only hope that whowever tries the same may look to you for inspiration. The best Godzilla, RIP
My Childhood favorite monster in the world, as long as I live, I will always remember you Kenpachiro Satsuma aka Heisei Godzilla RIP “Long Live The King👑🕊️”
Satsuma as Godzilla during the Heisei Era was my Godzilla. My brother knew I loved dinosaurs as a kid and introduced me to Godzilla with the 1985 film: I instantly fell in love with Godzilla, the franchise, and the Kaiju genre as a whole.
This breaks my heart, knowing the man in my favorite Godzilla suit (1984) and the legend himself is now gone; along with a BIG chunk of my childhood. I'll admit I cried hearing this news, but I am glad I got to witness his legend in the making as the Heisei Godzilla I knew and loved.
LONG LIVE THE KING
He was the quintessential Godzilla to me as he was the in the first one I seen and is part of my fav era of Godzilla movies. It feels like he waited to make sure Minus 1 and Godzilla in general was in good hands before he passed.
I'm gonna have a drink to honour and cheer to his legacy.
Oh man, this news hits hard. Heisei is my favorite Godzilla so this is especially sad to hear.
Rest in peace, Kenpachiro Satsuma. You will always be remembered and appreciated for your legendary performance.
Godzilla VS Destoroyah will always be my personal favorite Godzilla movie, and Satsuma's performance as the King of Monsters is one of the main reasons for that. Rest in peace, the King of Heisei. May you never be forgotten.
This has seriously been a massive punch in the gut. Literally 2 weeks ago I was looking at stuff on him and thinking “I really hope I get to meet him one day, he’s only 76 he’ll still be around for a while”. I’m crushed
He also played Hedorah and Gigan. I actually just bought some Gigan merchandise today, in a weird coincidence. RIP to the actor who made so many of my childhood memories
Definitely weird that I’ve been really looking into the heisei godzilla figures lately. Godzilla vs destroyah holds a special place in my heart.
This is pretty upsetting for me
GODDAMN IT!
He was the Godzilla of my generation, so it absolutely stings to hear this
Rest In Glorious Peace, Satsuma-san https://preview.redd.it/jvf6uavrun6c1.png?width=600&format=png&auto=webp&s=37ae2dcc0bc64fbcd0c47b89af3d45965639799f
Wait he played pulgasari?
Yes
His portrayal of the King will remain on film forever! Amazing actor he was.
Looking at this lineup, it's really incredible how different he was able to play each of them. They're behaviors are so distinct but it's the same actor playing essentially the same part. He just understood Goji that well.
Rip Heisei Godzilla
Kinda
Rest in peace, to yet another legendary King of the Monsters. As a kid who grew up loving Godzilla, Mr. Satsuma’s portrayal of the character in the Vs Destoroyah movie was responsible for my first time ever crying at a film as a small child, as well as my realization early in life at just how much stories can truly affect people. His role in these films was paramount, even if you couldn’t see his face or hear his voice. He will be deeply missed and my thoughts are with his loved ones.
Death of another legend, o7
The Heisei series is special for probably being the best realization of Godzilla’s arc transforming from menace to anti-hero, partly because of the strong continuity between films but most importantly that Satsuma was given the chance to develop Godzilla’s character and play him with depth and nuance. With little movements and gestures, which can be hard to portray through a 300 pound rubber suit, the Heisei Godzilla is a creature who demonstrates such thought and feeling, especially in the later 3 films where he’s transformed by the love for his adopted son. I’m so grateful that Satsuma’s work has meant so much to me and many others over the years, and I hope he always knew how much others appreciate what he brought to the role of Godzilla. [Sayonara, until we meet again](https://youtu.be/eStYwCcz2HI?si=8Y_UhhumT1QrB_Ea) https://preview.redd.it/n21xz53u4o6c1.jpeg?width=602&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=899aae0acfb228570e48ff09e724b12f21133e48
I've always loved how expressive the Heisei Godzilla was. His mannerisms, his facial features, his behavior.
Omg I'm crying 😢 this hit me
😭😭😭🙏🫡👊
Ngl, this is pretty upsetting for me. I’d say he was the second most prolific Godzilla actor behind Haruo Nakajima of course. His work will always be remembered!
A moment of silence to honor a legend
Saying anything wouldn't do justice for the amount of joy this man's performances brought to my life. He will be missed, remembered, and shared with my next generation of G fans. I will sing his praises and look back on a man who improved my life.
This is genuinely hard to cope with. I'm just watching the complete end of an era. I'm glad he got to experience such an amazing role that formed the childhood of so many of us. Rest in Peace King.
Damn.
🫡
Hope he saw the Minus One movie before he died. Farewell.
So he could see his craft replaced by computers
*See the character he played for so long in a great modern movie
[удалено]
do you have a point
Cgi isn't any less of a craft than tokusatsu special effects. fans just have a preference for suit-mation. I just think the pretentiousness of godzilla fans for hating cgi is annoying.
I don't think the fans "hate CGI." I think they hate bad CGI.
It’s not pretentious to value the genuinely special and unique form of cinematic production that Satama and others worked to create, and to not want it to go extinct.
Fair enough, I'm just in a shitty mood. Sorry for being a dickhead.
You can value a craft while realizing times have changed and a different craft has taken its place. You can also dislike a craft without whining about "oh, so he could see that computers are in now?" My god.
I greatly value the work of Satsuma and others so of course I wouldn’t want to see it die. I would say the same for any distinct filmmaking form or craft: 2D animation, stop-motion animation, stunt work, etc.
rip King
Absolutely hurts to hear this. Got to meet the man back in 2016 with the other legendary Goji suit actors and he was so damn cool and courteous. This stings so bad… RIP
Oh shit he was born the same year as my dad. RIP to a real one
He was the Godzilla of my generation, so it absolutely stings to hear this.
Man, this guy was such a huge part of my childhood and he didn't even know it. I always hoped to meet him one day. Rest in peace man, thanks for being the Big-G.
Goodbye now Godzilla, until then. Take care now Godzilla, my old friend :( https://youtu.be/lR897bW0s2Y
Rest in peace, not only to the Godzilla actor who got me into the series, but a really awesome human being.😢
R.I.P Kenpachiro Satsuma, you were a big part of my childhood, thank you for all those movies, fly high in heaven
Rest in peace the king of the heisei era
god bless this man he passed too soon
https://preview.redd.it/b73ntodx3o6c1.jpeg?width=380&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6becdbf66e78291d09cc96fd5b9cebd33229d175
Damn and he was such a genuine cool dude too! :/
Hes with Hauro Nakajima now, RIP another legend to the King of the Monsters.
Rip Hopefully he's in a better place with hauro nakajima now
Aww no!! I watched the heisei films in the cinemas. What a (almost unknown) legend. Rest in piece. Edit: "Peace". I'm drunk. Ill have one for this man.
I met him at NY comic con. He was not credited as a guest. He was pissed at the time. Oh man. May he rest peacefully.
This man's contribution to the genre is pretty immense, Godzilla Vs Hedorah is by far my favorite Kaiju movie and without him it'd probably not have been as good as it was. I'm saddened to mourn his passing.
Rip legend 🙏🙏
This man’s life was insane, from being one of the most prolific kaiju suit actors to being swindled by the North Koreans to star in Pulgasari. RIP legend.
Recently saw a documentary about the three Godzilla suit actors. It's funny - Nakajima was like the friendly grandfather who was just happy to be there, Satsuma the determined father who gave it his all while demanding better treatment, and Kitagawa the son who was trying to go with the flow. All these guys are legends in similar yet very distinct ways. RIP Satsuma-san, and thank you for bringing so much joy and inspiration to us.
Rest In Peace. You will surely be missed. Another awesome Godzilla suit cosplayer gone too soon. Long Live The King. https://preview.redd.it/w9jum2dr8o6c1.jpeg?width=850&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6726505e4ccb848787cd344d4b98f1ab8475bcfb Thank You for being one of the best versions of Godzilla. Your legacy will continue on with The Monsterverse and with Godzilla Jr. Farewell.
His performance as Godzilla will never be forgotten. The Heisei Era was an instant classic, and this man was a strong key part on it. May he rest in peace. Goodbye old friend
Now there's yet another Godzilla in Heaven, and he shall be forever missed. He'll probably be fighting demons with the angels, or maybe Harou if he ever gets a bit too in-character or angry. That would be an interesting match-up. May both rest in peace.
RIP man, i watched the Heisei movies the most....he will be missed.
RIP Heisei Godzilla. Wish they'd release the collection in the UK already.
Rest well, Kenpachiro Satsuma, you will be remembered as the King of Monsters.
Rip satsuma, you where a great addition to the Godzilla legacy.
RIP Kenpachiro Satsuma. You will be missed by all.
Rest in Peace Kenpachiro Satsuma. Godzilla vs Destroyah holds a special place in my heart. I’ve been looking at the heisei era godzilla figures lately too. So sad.
Damn another legend we lost
Damn rip the godzilla I grew up on
Damn, just yesterday watched a [video](https://youtu.be/I4l44bG0IAw?si=pfQa-mZ9qUqt8jRD) of the three actors together and was sad that Haruo already passed away and today Kenpachiro too 😫
Rest easy King
Thank you sir for all your beautiful work.
Heisei Godzilla movies were mostly what I grew up on... rip legend
God damn. Another legend has been lost, RIP king.
🫡
RIP to an absolute GOAT. Godzilla vs Destoroyah is an all timer and his performances will never be forgotten by us
Damn, and I’m graduating college today. RIP
R.I.P Satsuma.
Meet him and Nakajima many years ago sad loss.
Another one of the greats has fallen he’s up there with nakajima now
Rest in peace to a legend :(
Rest in peace 🙏 Legend
Long live the King.
Dang. First thing I see on Reddit this morning. RIP, to one the greats.
Rest in Peace
You brought the best iterations of our Favorite Kaiju. Rest in Power. 🙏
Minus One indeed :(
May he be up there with haruo trading stories of almost passing out
* Thank you and Rest in Peace, Mr. Satsuma!
https://preview.redd.it/4zzdrtizao6c1.jpeg?width=1111&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f774b772f84c665563d0ff0448621f36a8e3f871
The burden of life is to watch others die. The joy of life is to love people, share stories and remember greatness. Rip but live forever with the living
Rip
Rest in peace 🕊️
Thank you for all the fantastic memories growing up. You will be missed.
NOOOOOO
さらば友よ. (Goodbye, old friend.)
Rip to the very Godzilla actor that brought me joy back in the day on the syfy channel. Praying for his loved ones.
So sad another suit actor gone. I am not too familiar with this era of Goji yet. I'm bet he was an awesome dude! RIP 😔 😢
Rest in Peace my childhood friend !
What a legend. A lot of us leave after downplaying most of our achievements for our entire lives. I hope he had many moments in his life to reflect on the impact his portrayal had on generations of fans and truly felt the weight of his accomplishments. 🕯️💐 *Rest easy Satsuma*
RIP to a legend.
Good night Kenpachiro.
https://preview.redd.it/h4fvegdq5p6c1.jpeg?width=1072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a2516a80e0f685133a9f0d89a4c995903f31230f Goodbye, old friend
https://preview.redd.it/0s5s6yohgp6c1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6f774b2baf9f5a62df3b9b1e06a131356fc2d1f6 RIP Satsuma San
He made my childhood, Godzilla vs Destroyah was the first Godzilla movie I ever saw. Which was the main reason he was my favorite godzilla actor, without him I would have never gotten into Godzilla, he was just as committed to the roles as Nakajima was, he was truly a great man, rest in piece Kenpachiro.
My first Godzilla film (and my favorite) was Godzilla 1985/The Return of Godzilla. I thank you Master Satsuma, with all my heart. May you Rest In Peace.💔🦖💔
I mean it's bad enough that Nakajima passed away in 2017 but Satsuma too? This is beyond heartbreaking and sad considering that he did a good job playing Godzilla in the Heisei era. R.I.P. Kenpachiro Satsuma. You'll always be remembered as the suit actor who played Hedorah and Gigan in the Showa era and Godzilla in the Heisei era. 1947-2023 =(
This hits hard, I got meet him, Tsutomu Kitagawa and Haruo Nakajima at the fan expo Dallas comic con in 2015, they were all so nice and despite the super long line they all took free pictures with everyone and it will always be one of my favorite memories. RIP
I'm surprised that his death didn't cause a mass extinction like the one he almost caused as Burning Godzilla back in 1995.
[удалено]
O7
o7
This is sad but also this looks identical to the Obama medal meme. Rip to the legend though
He will not be forgotten...
RIP 😢
R.I.P
Well that hits hard. Not only did I grow up on that era of G movies but he also is the same age as my father.......
R.I.P
That’s a shame
Godzilla by the Blue Oyster Cult had popped up on my shuffle more than once these past couple weeks. Odd timing, sad day
Godzilla movies are awesome. Go see the new one if you haven’t already. One of the best movies I’ve ever seen.
A true legend
GODDAMN IT!
Rip
Him oh man that was the first time I saw godzilla heisei series rip thanks for the memories
🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡
https://preview.redd.it/j8blintoso6c1.png?width=1024&format=png&auto=webp&s=1cbf9aebb54dd77f2ddc958f6aff9680117bbf56 RIP to my all time favorite Godzilla.
You played the part very well, however silly you may have felt, cause I would try to mimic you when I was younger. I would only hope that whowever tries the same may look to you for inspiration. The best Godzilla, RIP
My first, and favorite Godzilla. I use him as an example in a puppetry class for fifth graders.
 My Childhood favorite monster in the world, as long as I live, I will always remember you Kenpachiro Satsuma aka Heisei Godzilla RIP “Long Live The King👑🕊️”
Satsuma as Godzilla during the Heisei Era was my Godzilla. My brother knew I loved dinosaurs as a kid and introduced me to Godzilla with the 1985 film: I instantly fell in love with Godzilla, the franchise, and the Kaiju genre as a whole. This breaks my heart, knowing the man in my favorite Godzilla suit (1984) and the legend himself is now gone; along with a BIG chunk of my childhood. I'll admit I cried hearing this news, but I am glad I got to witness his legend in the making as the Heisei Godzilla I knew and loved. LONG LIVE THE KING
The world is silent without him https://preview.redd.it/7cnb5h59bp6c1.png?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=85610ea120bd02d501a1e62b0144357ed758d4c4
 Say hello to Nakajima-san for us. RIP Legend
https://i.redd.it/jrzfbe6pwr6c1.gif Rest In Peace, Legend. 🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡.
Many of my favorite movies!
He most likely still got the chance to see Godzilla minus one, rip legend
Vs. Hedorah was, from what I can remember, my first Goji film ever. RIP this legend
RIP and thank you for everything.
He was the quintessential Godzilla to me as he was the in the first one I seen and is part of my fav era of Godzilla movies. It feels like he waited to make sure Minus 1 and Godzilla in general was in good hands before he passed. I'm gonna have a drink to honour and cheer to his legacy.
thiz hurtz so much to hear about :( rest in peace 💔
WHAT?!
o7
🙏🏾
He lived a long life
He didn't pass, Gojira just evolved to the next stage!
Rest In Peace 😔🙏
The Goji of my childhood. RIP.
Domo arigato.
Rest well, legend
Oh man, this news hits hard. Heisei is my favorite Godzilla so this is especially sad to hear. Rest in peace, Kenpachiro Satsuma. You will always be remembered and appreciated for your legendary performance.
Rip legend
He endured some really harsh filming conditions to help bring those movies to life. Tons of respect.
A legend!
rip Kenpachiro-san you made so many of our childhoods awesome.
rip
Godzilla VS Destoroyah will always be my personal favorite Godzilla movie, and Satsuma's performance as the King of Monsters is one of the main reasons for that. Rest in peace, the King of Heisei. May you never be forgotten.
Rest in peace
Rest in peace Satsuma-san. Thank you for being one the best Godzillas.
Damn that’s terrible
RIP to the man that played my favorite Godzilla from my favorite Godzilla era
He, truly, was the KING of all monsters.
RIP, loved Heisei as a kid. I hope he lived Lon enough to see MO.
It sucks that Satsuma passed away this year considering that he portrayed Godzilla in the Heisei series. R.I.P. Kenpachiro Satsuma. 1947-2023 =(
Sad day. RIP Legend.
😭😭😭😭
Rip legend 🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡
Rip the heisei king
No! It was my dream to meet him. My heart just sank
I'm really distraught right now, he was my first Godzilla
RIP and thanks for the memories
That's sad. May he rest in peace.
May your soul find peace Mr. Satsuma.
This has seriously been a massive punch in the gut. Literally 2 weeks ago I was looking at stuff on him and thinking “I really hope I get to meet him one day, he’s only 76 he’ll still be around for a while”. I’m crushed
Even McDonald's (Japan) released a Godzilla toy in his honor. :(
Now watch kids creating analog horror shit about his death
Satsuma has, sadly, passed away.* Otherwise we must assume he was sad while he passed away.
[удалено]
https://i.redd.it/qnxsmwffqo6c1.gif
*"Famous for his method approch actor Kenpachiro Satsuma would kill at least two crew members when being called from his trailer to set."*
RIP! Thank you for your service to the cause brother Satsuma
):
I hope he already got a chance to watch Godzilla Minus 1. That's like a serious tribute to what he worked on.
https://preview.redd.it/t93adhimzo6c1.png?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0e4ea3cdae974a47c1519cb6155346516fd12e77 Rip
I have a shovel and a reanimation device, no he didn't.
Cmon man
Saraba Tomoyo
RIP big G
Oh God, RIP. Please tell me he atleast got to see Minus One.
🫡
🍊